Programme of Studies for Bachelor Degree in Education – Pre - Primary School Teaching

Program’s purpose and objectives:

The main goal of the Department of Education is to respond to the national, social, cultural and

developmental needs of the country, through the provision of undergraduate and postgraduate

degrees in Education, and the production of knowledge in the specific field. The Program of

Studies for Early Childhood Education (ECE) contributes significantly to this goal. Its main

objectives are:

1. The production and transmission of knowledge in the field of early childhood

education.

2. The improvement of quality and effectiveness in early childhood education in Cyprus.

3. The promotion of basic and applied research in the field of education and specifically

in the field of early childhood education.

4. The production of a researched-based knowledge that will inform educational and

social policies in relation to the age range of 3-6 years.

5. The contribution to the promotion of equity in education through balancing of social

inequalities that relate to children of early years.

6. The identification and investigation of educational issues especially for children in

their early years.

The professional development of early childhood education staff for fullfilling the needs of

public and private pre-primary schools. Intended learning outcomes:

With the successful completion of the program the students are expected to:

1. Learn the pedagogical principles of ECE through the study of the history of education

and current literature of ECE programs and curricula to be able to work within the

principles of quality pre-school pedagogy.

2. Learn the content related with the pedagogy of ECE, the learning and developmental

theories, and the subject areas as presented in the official ECE curriculum in order to be

able to promote students’ learning outcomes.

3. To gain knowledge of the developmental (areas of development) and learning (subject

areas) stages and skills of preschool children so that they can respond appropriately to

the developmental and learning needs of each child separately and of each group of

children, and balance social and other inequalities.

4. To develop organizational and implementation skills of different forms of learning (e.g.

free and/or structured play, project approach, structured activities) through applying

differentiated activities that correspond to recent educational policies.

5. To organize the learning environment based on the specific learning purposes and

developmental goals and to choose developmentally appropriate materials to create the

proper physical environment in preschools.

6. To develop observation, documentation and assessment skills of children’s development

and learning and identify educational problems.

7. To develop communication and collaboration skills with parents and other professionals

in their workplace.

8. To develop a community of learners respecting the cultural, linguistic, social and

religious differences of children and of their families.

9. To develop a teacher professional identity which includes participation in the process

of research in ECE and also involves being critical of current ECE literature on research

areas in order to enhance his/her educational practice.

Program’s language of instruction and Duration of studies

The language of instruction is Greek.

Due to the undergraduate Rules, the minimum years of studies is 8 semesters (4 years) and the maximum years of study is 12 semesters (6 years). 240 ECTS are required:

First Semester (Fall): 33 ECTS

Second Semester (Spring): 28 ECTS

Third Semester (Fall): 30 ECTS

Fourth Semester (Spring): 30 ECTS

Fifth Semester (Fall): 30 ECTS

Sixth Semester (Spring): 29 ECTS

Seventh Semester (Fall): 32 ή 29 ECTS

Eighth Semester (Spring): 28 ή 31ECTS

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM OF STUDY

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ECTS

Compulsory Courses First Area: Pedagogical Sciences

EDU 101: Theory of Education EDU 202: Early Childhood Pedagogy EDU 218: Sociology of Education EDU 311: Introduction to Inclusive Education PSY 101: Developmental Psychology I

Second Area: Content Area Studies EDU 170: Pre-Math Concepts EDU 175: Natural Sciences in Pre-Primary School: Environment-

Living Organism EDU 252: Art Education in pre-primary school EDU 258: Music Education in pre-primary school EDU 377: Physical Education in pre-primary school EDU 137: The Integration of digital technologies in pre-primary school. EDU 348: Social Issues in pre-primary schools CS 002: Introduction to Computer Science MAS 051: Statistical Methods EDU 224: Forms of Language Expression

Third Area: Teaching Methodology, Evaluation, and Research

Research and Teaching Methodology Courses EDU 204: Methodology of Educational Research EDU 305: Student Assessment in pre-primary school EDU 220: Theory and methodology of Teaching

General and Special Teaching Courses

EDU 102: Education during Infancy (0-3 years) EDU 369: Play: Learning and Development EDU 223: Literacy in Early Childhood Education EDU 325: Creative Drama EDU 332: Mathematics Education in pre-primary school EDU 352: Teaching Art in pre-primary school

29

58

18

54

EDU 368: Teaching Music in pre-primary school

EDU 435: Teaching Natural Sciences in pre-primary school EDU 487: Teaching Physical Education in pre-primary school

A)Elective Area Courses

First Area: Pedagogical Sciences

(choose three from the following courses) EDU 201: Introduction to Philosophy of Education 18

EDU 118: Education and Gender

EDU 403: Comparative Education

EDU 105: History of Education

EDU 404: Curriculum Development

EDU 466: Learning Disabilities

Third Area: Teaching Methodology, Evaluation, and Research

(choose one from the following courses) 6

EDU 412: Organization and Administration of the Educational

System

EDU 424: Multimodality and Multiliteracies

EDU 481: Christian Ethics and Modern World

Β) Free Elective Courses and foreign language courses

Fifth area: Three Elective Courses from two different faculties and

two Courses of foreign language 25

• Three Elective Courses (from two different faculties)

• Two Courses of foreign language

Seminar-Senior Thesis

**EDU 490 Seminar-Senior Thesis I **EDU 491 Seminar-Senior Thesis II

12

School Experience

Fourth Area: School Experience

*EDU 239: School Experience in pre-primary school Ι 6

*EDU 339: School Experience in pre-primary school ΙΙ 6

*EDU 439: School Experience in pre-primary school ΙII 20

Total ECTS 240

Note: All the elective courses of the programme can be offered as elective courses for students of other departments provided there are seats available.

All the courses of the Department of Education Pre-primary School credited with 6 ects with the exception of EDU 439 School Experience in pre-primary School III which is credited with 20 ects.

The courses PSY101, MAS051 and CS002 credited with 5 ects.

*School Experience consists of three phases:

· Phase I (EDU 239): takes place in the second year of studies, either fall or spring semester. Students attend weekly seminars at the University. Students visit schools one day per week. A second- year student is placed in the class, where a fourth-year student carries out his/her early field experience.

· Phase II (EDU 339): takes place in the third year of studies, either fall or spring semester. Students attend weekly seminars at the University. Students visit schools one day per week and two students are placed in the same class. Phase III (EDU 439): takes place in the fourth year of studies, either fall or spring

semester. Students attend weekly seminars at the University. Students visit schools every day and are placed in separate classes.

• (Students, who choose to complete a Seminar Thesis, are exempted from two elective courses from any area of the programme of studies).

**EDU 490 Seminar - Senior Thesis I (5 ECTS): Planning and executing a study on a topic relevant to Education Sciences, under the guidance and supervision of a faculty member of the Department. The study may be based on empirical evidence and/or on a literature review. **EDU 491 Seminar - Senior Thesis II (5 ECTS): Planning and executing a study on a topic relevant to education sciences, under the guidance and supervision of a

ELECTIVE ONLY FOR STUDENTS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS:

EDU 100: Olympic Education EDU 148: Education Robotics EDU 158: Web 2.0 Tools

EDU 333: Academic Discourse: Critical Analysis and Production EDU 392: Conductiong Critical Synthesis of Critical Studies and Reporting Findings EDU 394: LGBTQ Issues, Youth and Education

EDU 467 Diversity and Exclusion

EDU 178: Science, Technology, Society and Education

faculty member of the Department. The study may be based on empirical evidence and / or on a literature review.

• All the elective courses of the programme can be offered as elective courses for students of other departments provided there are seats available.

7

TABLE 2: COURSE DISTRIBUTION PER SEMESTER

Α/Α Course Type Course Name Course Code

Periods per week

Period duration

Number of weeks/

Academic semester

Total hours/ Academic semester

Number of ECTS

Α’ Semester (Fall)

1. Compulsory Theory of Education EDU 101 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Pre-Math Concepts EDU 170 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

3. Compulsory Introduction to Computer Science CS002 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

4. Compulsory Developmental Psychology I PSY 101 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

5. Compulsory Introduction to Inclusive

Education EDU 311 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

6. Compulsory Course of foreign Language First

level 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

Β’ Semester (Spring) 1.

Compulsory Early Childhood Pedagogy EDU 202 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Theory and methodology of Teaching

EDU 220 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

3. Compulsory Natural Sciences in Pre-primary School: Envirnment-Living Organism

EDU 175 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

4. Compulsory Statistical methods

MAS 051 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

5. Compulsory Course of foreign Language Second level

2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

C’ Semester (Fall)

1. Compulsory Sociology of Education EDU 218 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Forms of Language Expression

EDU 224 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

8

3. Compulsory Art Education in pre-primary school

EDU 252 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

4. Compulsory Music Education in pre-primary School

EDU 258 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

5. Compulsory or Elective

School Experience in pre-primary school Ι *

or

Elective Courses First Area:

Introduction to Philosophy of Education

Comparative Education

Curriculum Development

EDU 239

or

EDU 201

EDU 403

EDU 404

2

2

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

13

13

39

39

39

39

6

6

6

6

D’ Semester (Spring) 1. Compulsory

The Integration of digital technologies in pre-primary school

EDU 137 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Play: Learning and Development

EDU 369 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

3. Compulsory Mathematics Education in pre-primary school

EDU 332 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

4. Compulsory Literacy in Early Childhood Education

EDU 223 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

5. Compulsory or Elective

School Experience in pre-primary school Ι *

or

EDU 239

ή

2

1.5 hour

13

39

6

9

Elective Courses First Area:

History of Education

Education and Gender

Learning Disabilities

EDU 105

EDU 118

EDU 466

2

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

13

39

39

39

6

6

6

E’ Semester (Fall)

1. Compulsory

Education during infancy (0-3 years)

EDU 102 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory

Physical Education in pre-primary school

EDU 377 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

3. Compulsory

Teaching Art in pre-primary school

EDU 352 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

4. Compulsory or Elective

School Experience in pre-primary school ΙΙ*

or

Elective Courses First Area:

Introduction to Philosophy of Education

Comparative Education

Curriculum Development

EDU 339

or

EDU 201

EDU 403

EDU 404

2

2

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

13

13

39

39

39

39

6

6

6

6

5 Compulsory Teaching Physical Education in pre-primary school

EDU 487 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

10

F’ Semester (Spring)

1. Compulsory Teaching Natural Sciences in pre-primary school

EDU 435 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Creative Drama EDU 325 1 3 hours 13 39 6

3. Compulsory Teaching Music in pre-primary school

EDU 368 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

4. Compulsory

or

Elective

School Experience in pre-primary school ΙΙ*

or

Elective Courses First Area:

History of Education

Education and Gender

Learning Disabilities

EDU 339

or

EDU 105

EDU 118

EDU 466

2

2

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

13

13

39

39

39

39

6

6

6

6

5. Free Elective course

Free Elective Course 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

G’ Semester (Fall) for students with School Experience

1. Compulsory Student Assessment in pre-primary school

EDU 305 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Social Issues in pre-primary schools

EDU 348 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

3. Compulsory School Experience in pre-primary school ΙΙΙ*

EDU 439

5

6 hours

13

390**

20

11

G’ Semester (Fall) for students without School Experience

1. Compulsory Student Assessment in pre-primary school

EDU 305 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Compulsory Social Issues in pre-primary schools

EDU 348 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

3. Elective Elective Courses First Area:

Introduction to Philosophy of Education

Comparative Education

Curriculum Development

EDU 201

EDU 403

EDU 404

2

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

13

39

39

39

6

6

6

4. Elective Elective Courses Third Area:

Christian Ethics and Modern World

Organization and Administration of the Educational System

EDU 481

EDU 412

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

39

39

6

6

5 Free Elective Course

Free Elective Course 2 1.5 hour

13 39 5

H’ Semester (Spring) for students with School Experience

1 Compulsory School Experience in pre-primary school ΙΙΙ*

EDU 439

5

6 hours 13

390**

20

2. Compulsory Methodology of Educational Research

EDU 204 2 1.5 hour

13 39 6

12

3. Free Elective Free Elective Course 2 1.5 hour

13 39 5

H’ Semester (Spring) for students without School Experience

1. Compulsory Methodology of Educational Research

EDU 204 2 1.5 hour 13 39 6

2. Free Elective Free Elective Course 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

3. Free Elective Free Elective Course 2 1.5 hour 13 39 5

4. Elective Elective Courses First Area:

History of Education

Education and Gender

Learning Disabilities

EDU 105

EDU 118

EDU 466

2

2

2

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

1.5 hour

13

13

13

39

39

39

6

6

6

5. Elective Elective Course Third Area:

Multimodality and multiliteracies

EDU 424

2

1.5 hour

13

39

6